ANALOGY

 Before you look at the choices, try to determine the relationship between the given words in good sentence.
    Build a bridge between the given words.
 If more than one answer fits the relationship in your sentence, look for a narrower approach.
 Watch out for answer choices that reverse the original relationship.
 Watch out for errors caused by “eye-catchers”.
 Be guided by the parts of speech.
 Consider secondary meanings of words, as well as their primary meanings.
 Eliminate answer choices that don’t express a specific relationship.
 Familiarize yourself with common analogy types.

Antonyms

Antonyms are words that are opposite in meaning. Both words usually belong to the same part of speech.
 

CONCERNED : INDIFFERENT Indifferent means unconcerned.

WAX : WANE Wax, to grow larger, and wane, to dwindle, are opposites.

ANARCHY : ORDER Anarchy is the opposite of order.

In an antonym variant, the words are not strictly antonyms; however, their meanings are opposed. Take the adjective nervous. A strict antonym for the adjective nervous would be the adjective poised. However, some analogy pairs with words belonging to different parts of speech need a different approach. The relationship still expresses opposing concepts or meanings (ex. a particular lack).
 

NERVOUS : POISE Nervous means lacking in poise..

WICKED : VIRTUE Something wicked lacks virtue. It is the opposite of virtuous..

WILLFUL : OBEDIENCE Willful means lacking in obedience. It is the opposite of obedient.

Synonyms

Synonyms are words that have the same meaning. Both words often belong to the same part of speech.
 

MAGNIFICENT : GRANDIOSE Grandiose means magnificent.

NARRATE : TELL To narrate is to tell.

EDIFICE : BUILDING An edifice is a building.

In a synonym variant, the words are not strictly synonyms; however, their meanings are similar. For example, take the adjective willful. A strict synonym for the adjective willful would be the adjective unruly. A variation of synonymous analogy pairs establishes an expression of how or what a word means. Examine the example below:
 

WILLFUL : UNRULINESS Willful means exhibiting unruliness.

VERBOSE : WORDINESS Someone verbose is wordy; he or she exhibits wordiness.

FRIENDLY : AMICABILITY Someone friendly is amicable; he or she shows amicability.

Common Analogy Types

 

Definition REFUGE : SHELTER A refuge by definition, shelters. NOMAD : WANDER A nomad by definition, wanders. HAGGLER : BARGAIN A haggler, a person who argues over prices, by definition bargains.	Class and Member RODENT : SQUIRREL A squirrel is a kind of rodent. SOFA : FURNITURE A sofa belongs to the category known as furniture. SONNET : POEM A sonnet is a kind of poem.	Defining Characteristics TIGER : CARNIVOROUS A tiger is carnivorous, or a meat-eating animal. ENTOMOLOGIST : INSECTS An entomologist is a person who studies insects. HIVE : BEE A hive is defined as a home for bees.
Degree of Intensity LUKEWARM : BOILING Lukewarm is less extreme than boiling. FLURRY : BLIZZARD A flurry or shower of snow is less extreme than a blizzard. ANNOYED : FURIOUS To be annoyed is a less intense emotion than to be furious.	Part to Whole ISLAND : ARCHIPELAGO Many islands make up an archipelago. LETTER : ALPHABET The English alphabet is made up of 26 letters. FINGER : HAND The finger is part of the hand.	Function ASYLUM : REFUGE An asylum provides refuge or protection. FEET : MARCH A function of feet is to march. LULL : STORM A lull temporary interrupts a storm.
Manner MUMBLE : SPEAK To mumble is to speak in an indistinct manner. STRUT : WALK To strut is to walk in a proud manner. STRAINED : WIT Wit expressed in a forced manner is strained.	Worker and Article Created POET : SONNET A poet creates a sonnet. ARCHITECT : BLUEPRINT An architect designs blueprint. MASON : WALL A mason builds a wall.	Worker and Tool PAINTER : BRUSH A painter uses a brush. GOLFER : CLUB A golfer uses a club to strike the ball. CARPENTER : VISE A carpenter uses a vise to hold the object being worked on.
Worker and Action ACROBAT : CARTWHEEL An acrobat performs a cartwheel. FINANCIER : INVEST A financier invests. TENOR : ARIA A tenor sings an aria.	Worker and Workplace TEACHER : CLASSROOM A teacher works in a classroom. SCULPTOR : STUDIO A sculptor works in a studio. DRUGGIST : PHARMACY A druggist works in a pharmacy.	Tool and Object It Acts Upon KNIFE : BREAD A knife cuts bread. PEN : PAPER A pen writes on paper. RAKE : LEAVES A rake gathers leaves.